WAYANAD — Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday strongly defended her mother, former Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s, newly published memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love, asserting that she is entitled to present her own account after remaining silent through decades of sustained political criticism.
Speaking with reporters during a three-day official visit to her Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, Gandhi stated that her mother had endured years of fabricated allegations from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) without responding publicly, and welcomed the fact that ruling party leaders were now reading her book.
Partisan Clash Over Historical Accounts
Released on November 10, the memoir traces Sonia Gandhi’s personal life and decades in Indian politics, sparking a sharp political debate between the Congress and the BJP:
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Countering Decades of Criticism: Priyanka Gandhi noted that opponents had spent years inventing narratives about her mother while she kept quiet, adding that she was pleased the BJP was now engaging with the truth as told by the author herself.
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Contested History: The BJP has criticized the publication, alleging that it seeks to gloss over controversial episodes during Congress rule—including the Emergency and the 1984 anti-Sikh riots—whereas Congress leaders have defended her right to document her personal experiences.
Official Engagements Across Wayanad
The press interaction took place during Gandhi’s first visit to Wayanad—the parliamentary constituency she won in the 2024 by-election after Rahul Gandhi vacated the seat to retain Rae Bareli—following the memoir’s launch:
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Condolence Visit in Mananthavady: On Thursday, she met with the family members of the late Padma Shri awardee and renowned traditional seed conservationist Cheruvayal Raman.
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Inauguration of Public Facilities: Her itinerary includes inspecting ongoing development works across the constituency and inaugurating two Smart Anganwadi centers at Kammana and Thrissillery.
